More than 1,900 bicyclists began the 545-mile, seven-day trek from San Francisco to Los Angeles as part of the ninth annual AIDS/Lifecycle ride to raise money and awareness to treat and prevent the disease.

This year's event, which supports HIV/AIDS services provided by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, attracted fewer riders this year compared to last year, when about 2,200 riders raised $11 million. But organizers say the riders, on track to raise more than $10 million, raised more money per rider than the previous year.

"There are also more new riders this year, which is great because I think there's acknowledgement that getting the awareness out there is as important as raising funds," said Debra Holtz, spokeswoman for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. She said the average amount of money raised by each rider is approaching $5,000, compared to about $4,000 last year.

Jazz Vassar, a 24-year-old student at San Francisco State University and an avid bicyclist for the past three years, said she decided to ride for the first time this year not only because she wanted to prove to herself she could do it, but because she wanted to raise awareness about black women and AIDS.

"When I started researching, I didn't know black women were contracting AIDS at such an alarming rate. We make up 50 percent of the new AIDS cases," said Vassar, speaking via cell phone between the third and fourth rest stops near Davenport (Santa Cruz County).

Vassar, who lives in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, which has among the highest rates of AIDS in the city, said such health inequities should be everybody's business.

"Everyone is affected when one group of people has health disparities that are far greater than anyone else," she said.

About 1.1 million Americans live with HIV - the highest number in the history of the epidemic, according to the ride's organizers. Gay and bisexual men represent 76 percent of all HIV cases in California and 53 percent nationally. While African Americans make up 6 percent of the state's population, they account for 19 percent of those living with HIV/AIDS.

"With the ongoing budget crisis and last year's horrific cuts to HIV prevention funding, the money raised through AIDS/LifeCycle is more important than ever," said Lorri Jean, chief executive officer of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, in a statement. "It's important for people to realize that the HIV pandemic isn't over and that there are still many in our community in need of quality medical care."

David Wichman, of San Francisco, raised $20,825 for this year's ride, his third. It is his way, he said, of honoring his friends who have died from the disease. The ride also draws needed attention to the many people who are still living with AIDS, he said.

"This has been sort of the culmination of about 50 people I've lost in the past 15 years to AIDS and all the other people who are living with AIDS and still need support," said Wichman, 41, who lost one of his best friends to the disease six months ago after the cocktail of drugs that has extended the lives of many AIDS patients stopped working.

Wichman, who did not train for the ride but keeps in shape by going to the gym every day and operating a dog walking business, said he intends to raise $40,000 for next year's ride.